Maria Horn

This weekend I got out my “Thanksgiving” file – menus from years past, spattered and dog-eared recipes that have become family “must-haves”, and execution plans for what needs to be done when and in what order, so that dinner can be delivered on time to a hungry crowd of family members. 

My mission this year was to downsize all of it: we will get along without the specialty items my brother’s family brings, we will cook fewer things, and we will reduce quantities of everything remaining.  I know many of you are doing the same thing, because we’ve been talking about it.  So many of you have told me: there will be fewer at the table, and it will be fine, because it’s the right thing to do and we know why we’re doing it.   
 
Keeping celebrations to household members, and following simple precautions like social distancing, mask wearing, and handwashing will protect your family and community, and limit the burden on our dedicated healthcare workers who also want to be with their families this year.  I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving celebration this year.  

Here’s a list of today’s topics:

• Governor Lamont signs Executive Order No. 9M. Click here.
•  Updated sector rules released regarding team sports, gyms, and fitness centers. Click here.
• Step Up Connecticut looking to enlist help to combat COVID-19. Click here.
• Holiday Hut to benefit Kent Affordable Housing. Click here.
• Torrington Youth Service Bureau Christmas Angels program. Click here.
• Goshen Trail Treasures. Click here.
• Business Registration now open for CT Paid Leave Program. Click here.
• Celebrating the holidays with relatives in long-term care communities. Click here.

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 
Governor Lamont signs Executive Order No. 9M enacting the following provisions:

• DECD authority to enact rules for all sports activities: Expands authority of the commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development to establish mandatory safety rules to all sports.
• Renewals of certain permits extended: To promote compliance with pandemic-related restrictions on sales of liquor, extends the renewal period for certain liquor permits and refunds certain renewal fees already paid.
• Extending authorization for online continuing education for plumbers and electricians: Extends to February 9, 2021 the time during which plumbers and electricians may satisfy continuing education requirements through online learning.
• Extended deadlines for continuing education for plumbers and electricians: Extends to February 9, 2021 the deadline for electricians and plumbers to complete their continuing education requirements while allowing them to renew licenses according to original deadlines.

Updated sector rules released regarding team sports, gyms, and fitness centers
 
The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development published updated sector rules regarding team sports, as well as gyms and fitness centers. These rules take effect Monday, November 23.
 
Some of the new rules include:
 

• All team sporting activities, except collegiate and professional, are prohibited until January 19, 2021.
• All team scrimmages, competitions, camps, clinics, and tournaments including all interscholastic, “pick-up” games, and other informal athletic activities prohibited.
• “Team” is defined as a group of more than four people jointly engaged in an organized or recreational athletic activity on a court, field, etc.
• Masks are now required in all gyms and fitness centers with no exceptions.
• Fitness classes have been reduced to 25 percent capacity.

 
For the full rules released today, click here.
 
Step Up Connecticut looking to enlist help to combat COVID-19

Step Up Connecticut is the effort to enlist everyone who is healthy, and able to help to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Volunteers and flexible staff are a critical part of how we can ensure that our residents have access to what they need.
The state is asking residents to step up to become substitute teachers, volunteer at testing sites,  work in a variety of roles in nursing homes or hospitals, distribute food to those who need to stay home - and more.  
It's important to know that we don't just need medical volunteers and staff. We need everyone who can help - and we're counting on you. 
Please, explore the opportunities below - and join the team today. 
Here's how you can join:

• Sign up to be a medical, or non-medical volunteer in your community, including at testing sites

• Opportunities in Education
• Apply for critical need job openings in long-term care facilities (medical and non-medical)
• Donate Personal Protective Equipment to Those in Need
• Donate to 4-CT: Connecticut's COVID-19 Charity Connection

 Holiday Hut to benefit Kent Affordable Housing
 
This weekend the Holiday Hut pop-up show will open, benefiting Kent Affordable Housing.  Located at #5 Fulling Land in the Kent Barns shopping area, it will be open Friday through Sunday, November 27-29, 11am-4pm (properly masked and distanced). Prices range from $5 to $100, and all are welcome.  Items include: knit scares, cowls, socks and hats.

Torrington Youth Service Bureau Christmas Angels program
 
The Torrington Youth Service Bureau believes that every child deserves a present on Christmas.  Their Christmas Angels program helps deliver on that promise.  If you would like to adopt an Angel or know a child/family in need this holiday season, please contact Marc at mpruchnicki@nwcty.org or 860-496-0356. 

Goshen Trail Treasures
 
The Goshen Recreation Department, Goshen Conservation Commission and Goshen Land Trust have created a fun trail hunt in order to encourage more people to get outside and experience the beauty of Goshen’s trails.  The more you hike the trails, the more chances you have to win! Participation runs until November 29, 2020, and is open to all. 

How to participate: 

• Head out onto any (or all) of the trails listed here  before November 29, 2020
• Find the orange stake and canister with a QR code on the trail
• Scan the QR code with your cell phone’s camera (you do not need to take a picture of the code, just open the camera and hold it over the code; if you have any trouble, please email Goshen Rec at parkandrec@goshenct.gov)
• A link on the top of your screen should pop up and you’ll click that to get to the Google form
• Fill out the Google form and answer the questions
• Don’t forget to press submit form!

One random winner from each trail will be chosen to win a prize on December 1, 2020.

Business Registration now open for CT Paid Leave Program
 
The CT Paid Leave program applies to all Connecticut businesses with one or more employees, and employers in the state need to register with the CT Paid Leave Authority. Registration is now open; please visit CTPaidLeave.org to register your business. 

Businesses interested in providing a private plan in lieu of participation may pursue that option through the registration process. 

Sole proprietors and those who are self-employed are eligible to opt-in to the program through the registration process as well.  

To register, please visit the CT Paid Leave website’s registration page by clicking the button below.

Please note the registration process may differ depending on your type of business, and whether a company administrator or a third-party administrator handles your payroll. The registration for each business type is laid out in detail on the CT Paid Leave registration page. There is also a helpful video tutorial to help guide you through the process.

Celebrating the holidays with relatives in long-term care communities
 
The pandemic has struck our long-term care communities hard. For residents and their families, visitation over the holidays raises challenges for preserving health while maintaining the connections that make life meaningful.  In recognition of those challenges, The Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Department of Public Health have reached out to families with loved ones in long-term care communities  with some examples of how you can celebrate with a loved one in long-term care:

• Low risk: Celebrate virtually with your loved one using methods such as Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Google Duo. You can also drop off a meal for them to enjoy.
• Low-medium risk: Visit your loved one at their residence. Bring a favorite Thanksgiving food or a holiday treat that meet individualized needs, while following safety guidelines including mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. The risk level of a visit to the facility or residence depends on the number of visitors and the potential exposure to COVID-19 that any of the visitors may have had.
• Medium-high risk: Bring your loved one home to celebrate with just your household, following safety guidelines including mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing, and frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces. For two weeks prior to your holiday gatherings, limit exposure to COVID- 19 by avoiding indoor settings with people you don’t live with where you cannot socially distance or wear a mask (e.g., indoor social events, restaurants, carpooling). Before removing your loved one, you should understand that they may need to quarantine for 14 days upon their return.

Bringing a loved one home to celebrate with multiple households, and/or not following social distancing, handwashing, cleaning, or mask guidance, would constitute a very high risk activity. Many people living in congregate settings are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19 and may have health conditions putting them at a higher risk of becoming sick, or even severely ill, with COVID-19.

When deciding whether to include your loved one in a holiday gathering, or visiting your loved one in their home, it is important to take into account their health and safety, as well as the health and safety of your loved one’s roommates, other people living on their floor or in their home, and the staff that care for them. The above recommendations align with those of the Centers for Medicaid Services who released their holiday guidance on November 19, 2020 and CDC’s safe holiday guidance.

Lastly, for loved ones of residents in a long-term care community, it’s important to keep yourself and your family safe, including by following guidance earlier this month for all Connecticut residents to follow to best ensure a safe holiday.
 
Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.
 

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Relay services can be accessed by calling 7-1-1. Anyone who is out-of-state or using Relay can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 toll free by dialing 1-800-203-1234. The hotline is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider.